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 c42 |
Leaking Strut( for shaft) |
Lead | ||
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Posts: 37 05/26/07 08:34:29 |
I have just recently noticed that I have a steady stream of water coming from the strut after the boat has been used.
The boat is new C950. Has anyone had this problem before and what was required to fix it. Thanks Don Paget |
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oscar |
#1 | |||
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Posts: 475 05/26/07 13:27:39 |
What type of seal do you have? Traditional stuffing box or PSS dripless?
Lady Kay, C42#76, 1989, WK 3C. Chesapeake/Fort Lauderdale.
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tinolanza |
#2 | |||
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Posts: 212 05/27/07 00:15:20 |
We have not had this problem but had a hairline crack at the point where the strut exits the hull. Someone may be able to confirm the construction, but it
appears that the strut post is glassed into the hull after the hull is formed, that is the hull is cut and a post is applied. The strut itself is then
inserted through the post and secured from within with a couple of through bolts. There is a liberal amount of sealant between the strut and the post which
should prevent water from entering.
In our case, the normal action of the spinning shaft along with the somewhat abruptness of changing gears with a Maxprop caused stress at the hull-stut post joint. The cracks where only on the starboard side. We had the our yard grind out along the crack, let is air dry before reglassing and applying new bottom paint. Is your leak coming from the point where the strut exits the post, or from elsewhere. If the former it could be that there is insufficient sealant. I would check with the factory as what sealant to use. Also check that the bolts holding the strut are tight. If the latter, this could indicate a more serious problem. Keep us posted on what you uncover.
Tino Lanza, Dancing Dolphin (#739/3 cabin pullman, Westlake Village, CA)
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kenfischer |
#3 | |||
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Posts: 172 05/27/07 06:07:58 Moderator |
Don:
Given the age of your boat, I would take it back to the dealer and say "it's broken". Then write back and tell us what the yard found and how they fixed it!
Ken Fischer
2005 C42 #906 "Solaria" 3 Cabin Pullman, Fin Keel, Mast Furling Main, 155% Genoa |
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oscar |
#4 | |||
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Posts: 475 05/27/07 18:01:41 |
Oops, senior moment. You said strut, not shaft. Mine is old and things appear cracked....but fortunately nothing leaks. If it ain't broke.....
Lady Kay, C42#76, 1989, WK 3C. Chesapeake/Fort Lauderdale.
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seaair |
#5 | |||
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Posts: 64 05/29/07 07:41:04 |
We have the same problem on our boat. It is not a major leak (just a damp streak that leads from the post to under the engine) so I haven't gotten excited
about it. Ours leaks between the strut and the strut post and I suspect that the "liberal amount of sealant between the strut and the post"
wasn't liberal enough. I don't think there is anyway to fix it in the water, so we will just deal with it when we next pull it out.
Warren
Seattle, WA Sutlej, #920 3-cabin pullman |
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pporcheron |
#6 | |||
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Posts: 47 06/04/07 07:04:36 |
Don,
Don't feel bad, I had the same problem and the same guys tried to fix the problem. They blamed it on my Autoprop. I installed a Max-prop. The leak was still there when the boat went back. Last haulout I grooved 1/2 around the strut, applied 5200 then glassed over. Cut a smaller groove and applied 5200 then glassed over the second seal. Then applied a 1 in bead of fiberglass over the top. This has fixed the problem. CATALINA should be looking into this situation. I would think that they have built enough boats to "know how" Pierre Shumka #899
#899 2 cabin Pullman
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mjk |
#7 | |||
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Posts: 43 06/06/07 16:21:44 |
The strut leak is usually caused by vibration from an out of balance prop or an engine that's out of alignment. The vibration breaks the glassed seal
between the hull and strut leg female housing allowing water to seep or weep in. The strut itself is epoxied into and bolted thru the female piece which is
glassed into the hull, It's a real project to remove the strut and its housing so the easy fix is to grind out a deep groove around the female casting
between it and the hull and fill it with 5200 which can absorb vibrations.
While the seeping water seems harmless it will eventually penetrate into the hull and skeg. Even though the skeg is touted as solid fiberglass it has, on my Mark 1, absorbed water. On a previous haulout I drilled a 3/8 inch hole about 3" behind the strut assembly and nearly a quart of water ran out. I drilled additional holes and let water drain for weeks as the hull dried out prior to some blister repair and painting. After the repair described above the boat was not hauled again for three years. This time no water in the skeg! MJK Splash Dancer II, #94 |
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